A Touch of Personal Guilt With an Early Daylight saving Time

Why did Daylight recovery Time (Dst) have to start in mid-March? The ground is still frozen, in some areas, winter has not completely gone!

There is Sad, Seasonal Adjusted Disease when we turn back the clock, when days are shorter and nights are absolutely longer. We don't see enough daylight. Dst has its own disorder for me. With the early start of Dst, I feel a touch guilty about not enjoying the extra daylight constructively. This is a Dst Guilt Trip.

Day Light Savings

It means less daylight in the morning and more in the evenings. This is supposed to give us all that extra sunlight to do things. Isn't that wonderful. As with all things in life, there is a pro and a con. There are differing schools of thought. Daylight recovery was first suggested in 1895. It was the First World War that encouraged some countries like the United States, Germany and United Kingdom to adopt the idea. But, some countries abolished it after the war. Today, it is here to stay. There is still on-going debate about the advantages and disadvantages of Dst.

Society has learned to live with turning the clock backward in the Fall and transmit in the Spring. That was good when I was working. Longer evenings gave me more time after work. More time for public activities, more time with the house and more chores get done.

But now in retirement, the day seem to last too long with the early start of Dst. It is just one hour difference, but after dinner, it seems to be a long stretch to bedtime. The sun is still out, watching television does not feel right. However, there is still a chill in the air, this does not encourage me to take a walk after dinner. There are enough hours while the day to get at my chores, indulge in my hobbies, run errands and pursue other interests. Sitting nearby while the day is not for me. The rhythm of my life feels disrupted with longer days in mid-March. I feel guilty being unable to fill in the hours of daylight left after dinner. Who precisely benefits from this early start?

So why should I feel guilty sitting nearby when the sun is still bright? I write in the morning when the world nearby me feels fresh and my mind is clearer. In the winter months, evenings are longer and this inspires me to do some writing after supper or play the piano. But with Dst, darkness falls long after dinner. I am prone to fret about what to do for a consolidate of hours.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem putting in a productive, creative day. It is how to fill the few hours of daylight. Too early to conclude down with a book, too inspiring to watch television, chores and errands are done, so what to do? It won't be till mid April that it starts to feel like Spring has sprung. It is time to get the outdoor furniture ready, and fire up the grill. And of course, the organery beckons. But till then, Dst sets me off on a guilt trip.

A Touch of Personal Guilt With an Early Daylight saving Time